While I was at work the other day, we got on the subject of pecans and my coworker asked me about pralines.
Is it candy? Is it chocolate? Does it even have anything to do with pecans?
The answer to that is really very simple. A praline is a pecan coated in an irresistible sugary candy coating for a sweet crunch. They can be eaten whole and on their own, but oftentimes they’re chopped up or crushed and mixed into everything from chocolate to ice cream.
While I was doing a Google search for “praline” I discovered that it can also take on the form of a more traditional candy brittle, but the ingredients are the same for the most part and both feature pecans. Interestingly enough though, the European version of praline candy usually consists of almonds and hazelnuts… just a little fun fact I found.
What do you get when you mix a great cause and some delicious ice cream? Yes Pecan!
“Yes Pecan!” is the name of the latest Ben & Jerry’s concoction that combines “Amber Waves of Buttery Ice Cream With Roasted Non-Partisan Pecans.”
I haven’t actually been able to try this flavor yet, so I can’t comment on the taste, but when you purchase “Yes Pecan!” from local Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops during the month of January, all proceeds will be donated to the Common Cause Educational Fund.
The Common Cause Educational Fund is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that is committed to honest and accountable government as well as encouraging national participation in democracy. The Education Fund conducts research, education and outreach activities.
And, for every person who joins Common Cause or donates $1 to the Education Fund, Ben & Jerry’s will also donate $1.
How exactly do you pronounce “pecan” anyway? Do you say pea-can? Or is it pih-kahn?
Much like the cara-mel/car-mel pronunciation debate, it looks like the answer to this question isn’t as complicated as it sounds.
After doing a basic Google search on “How to pronounce pecan,” a slew of sites popped up with answers from across the U.S. It turns out your pronunciation of the word is closely linked to the region you are from and/or what you grew up with. There’s no real right or wrong way to say it, just personal preference. Even Dictionary.com lists several ways to say it.
I happen to say pih-kahn, but no matter how you say it, they’re always delicious.
How do you pronounce it? Type your response below.
Indulge in a great pre- or post-workout snack for extra energy and nutrition
Throw chopped pecans in the pan next time you sauté veggies
Try them covered in delicious milk, dark or white chocolate for an extra tasty treat
Mix chopped pecans in with your next batch of cookie dough before you bake
The bottom line is that pecans can add flavor to just about anything you can imagine. Be creative. Have fun. And just go with it. Email me for your pecan ideas and I’ll share them here on The Pecan Blog.
Aside from producing some incredibly tasty treats, the pecan tree has several other uses. To get an idea of how versatile the tree is, I searched the words “pecan wood” and the search came back with over 261,000 results on Google.
From my search, I’ve learned that pecan wood is used to make everything from incredibly durable hardwood floors to everyday household furniture and can even be smoked at barbecues to add extra flavor to food.
I was particularly interested in how I could use the pecan wood to add a delicious twist to my everyday barbecues. We love to fire up the grill at my house whenever possible, and this seemed like the perfect way to spice up our normal routine.
In order to get that sweet, smooth, smoky taste of pecan wood into any barbecue, start by purchasing pecan wood chunks or chips from your local retailer. (Be sure to use pecan wood chunks that are specifically made for cooking; many lumber stores treat their wood with chemicals, which is definitely not OK to cook with.) Although the directions vary from product to product, most wood chunks or chips simply need to be soaked in water for a good length of time so they don’t burn when placed over an open fire. After the wood has had a chance to soak, simply add it on top of the coals and cook away! A simple cooking technique for delicious food.
A little while back, The Green Valley Pecan Company made a commercial. It’s a little quirky and a lot of fun. Check out the funny video below to get an entirely different view of pecans from a squirrel’s perspective.
The other day I was searching for recipes that contained pecans and one search result stopped me in my tracks: Pecan pizza. Now, I’ve had a lot of different ingredients on pizza before, including melon, prosciutto, potatoes, cilantro, spinach, broccoli and tortilla strips, but never pecans, oddly enough.
Speedy Artichoke-Pecan Pizza
1 8-ounce frozen puff pastry sheet, thawed but still chilled
4 ounces (about 1 cup) feta cheese, crumbled
8 pieces (about ½ cup) sun-dried tomato packaged in oil, roughly chopped
4 artichoke hearts packed in oil, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon fresh oregano leaves
1/3 cup chopped pecans
Coarsely ground black pepper to taste
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Roll thawed, but still cool, puff pastry into a rectangle about 8 by 10 inches. Place on a baking sheet. Scatter crumbled feta evenly over pastry followed by the chopped sun-dried tomato and artichoke hearts.
Scatter oregano leaves on top of vegetables. Distribute pecans evenly over oregano and season with black pepper to taste.
Bake pizza for 20 minutes, or until puff pastry dough turns crispy and brown and the pecans are toasted. Cut into 8 or 16 appetizer portions and serve
If anyone else has a chance to try out this recipe, please email me at iheartpecans@gmail.com and let me know your thoughts. I’d love to hear them!
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